Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Without that progressive build of stakes, when Yorkey tries to land some extremely dramatic gut punches at the end of the musical, there's no urgency nor weight, which leaves Dolan and her actors scrambling to force the emotions of the situation. "If/Then" simply never manages to make its way out of a fantasy world and into any sort of emotional reality."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...If/Then tries hard to say something important about fate, destiny, and the way we live our lives, but the shallow storylines and forgettable music undercut these aims."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...John Greenleaf Whittier’s bittersweet couplet is echoed in If/Then, a 2014 chamber musical. This sprawling, 160-minute speculation of a show wonders whether there are any accidents in life. Is chance just “probabilities playing out”? Little that happens in life is ever as inevitable as fate. But that hint of freedom doesn’t save us from the regrets Whittier describes."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...The opportunity to revisit a turning point in one’s life might well be a blessing. To have the opportunity to walk down a road not taken when first encountered would indeed be a life-changing experience. Hindsight is always true and clear; the chance to go back and make one’s life better, to make wiser choices, is a wish we can all appreciate. In this musical, a young woman is given the chance to reevaluate her the choices that she’s made and, in the end, Elizabeth finds herself “Always Starting Over.”"
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...The current staging of If/Then by one of Chicagoland's gutsiest storefront companies, Brown Paper Box, brings out the very best of one person living two distinctly different lives simultaneously, based on differing decisions made one fateful day. With music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, the same duo that penned the score and lyrics for Next to Normal, the If/Then music is fun, modern, soulful and varied. "Here I Go," "What the Fuck," "No More Wasted Time," "Hey Kid" and "You Learn to Live Without" is one person's list of favorites. Every patron can compile his or her own."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of IF/THEN creates a new level of intimacy with the story. If you're into big, Broadway-scale musical productions with lots of sets, lights, and huge dance numbers, this production might not be for you. If you're already a fan of IF/THEN and looking for a new take, this would be a good fit for you. More, it would likely be a good fit for any musical lover who likes to explore the possibilities of what if?"
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...I would trade all the "If/Then"s in the world for a musical about Kate, Lucas and Elizabeth. And I would happily trade whatever else to see Giles, Adams-King and Guidry reprise their roles. These three are a joy in every scene. The chemistry between any grouping of these characters is, hands down, the best part of this show."
